Electrode holder



Jan- 11 1949- G. F. NlLs-soN YELFCTRDE HOLDER Filed April 5, 1947INVENTOR y GUSTAF F. NlLssoN ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to electrode holders and has for an object toprovide a holder in which the welding electrode may be held at variousdifferent angular positions including a position in which the electrodeis in alignment with the holder.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a holder adapted tohold rods of different sizes.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a holder inwhich surface contact of extended area is procured between the electrodeand the clamping means therefor.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a holder which iscompletely insulated.

An object of the invention resides in providing a holder which may beeasily and quickly operated by one hand and which does not utilizethreads for clamping the electrodes in position.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a holderwhich can be easily assembled and taken apart.

An object of the invention resides in providing a holder in which aminimum amount of arcing occurs.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a holder which isventilated to maintain the same at a suiiiicently low temperature topermit continued use of the holder in comfort.

An object of the invention resides in providing an elongated plungerhaving jaws for the endwise reception of the electrodes and movable inan elongated case and in further constructing one of said jaws with acam engageable with a part on the case to procure closing of the jawsupon longitudinal movement of the plunger within the case.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a lever pivoted tothe plunger for reciprocating the same and in providing a collar withinsaid case against which said lever reacts.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrode holderillustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a portion of the electrode holdershowing the parts in altered position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken of line 3 3 ofFig. 1.

(Cl. 21B-8) 2 Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig.l.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

The invention comprises a case I0, which is constructed of insulatingmaterial and which is cylindrical in form. This case has a body portionII with a neck I2 at the outermost end of the same. The neck I2 isformed with a bore I3, while the body portion I I, which is of largerdiameter than the neck I2 is formed with an enlarged bore I4.

Slidable within the bore I3 of neck I2 of case I0 is a plunger I5, whichis constructed of copper or some other suitable electrical conductingmaterial. This plunger is of uniform diameter throughout its extent andhas a portion I6 eX- tending into the bore I4. Within the bore I4 islocated a collar II which in turn has a bore I8 of the same diameter asthe bore I2 and which further supports the plunger I5 for reciprocatingmovement in the case I0. For holding the collar I'I attached to the caseI0 two screws l2 are employed which extend through the walls of the bodyportion II of case I0 and which are screwed into the said collar.

For the purpose of supporting electrodes in the holder, the plunger I5is constructed with two transversely extending holes 2| and 22, whichare at right angles to the axis of the plunger I5. These holes are bestshown in Fig. 3 and are adapted to register with other holes 24 and 25in the neck I2 of the case I0. The holes 24 and 25 are slightly largerthan the holes 2I and 22. The portions of the plunger and case at theholes 2| and 24 form jaws which cooperate to receive the weldingelectrodes mounted in the holder. When a welding rod or electrode suchas indicated at 26 in dotted lines in Fig. 3 is inserted into the holes2| and 24 and the plunger I5 urged inwardly into the case I0 the saidrod becomes clamped against the surfaces of the case I0 and plunger I5at the holes 2I and 24. This brings the electrode into contact with theplunger I5 whereby current may be transmitted to the electrode. Theholes 22 and 25 function similarly to the holes 2I and 24 butaccommodate an electrode of smaller dimensions than the electrode 26.The welding electrode to be used in these holes would be ofcorresponding size. In addition to the holes 2I and 22 other holes 21and 28 are drilled in the plunger I5 which are angularly disposed withreference to the axis of the plunger and which serve the same purpose asthe holes 2l and 22. These holes are adapted to register with holes 29and 30, in the neck I2 of case I and which function in the same manneras the holes previously described. The holes 2l and 22 to save in spacemay intersect the holes 2l and 28 and by means of these holes electrodesmay be held at various angles with respect to the holder and differentsizes of electrodes may be employed. While I have illustrated two sizesof holes and have shown the same arranged at two different angles it canbe readily comprehended that the holder may be designed to hold anynumber of sizes of electrodes and that the holes can be drilled to causethe electrodes to project from the holder at any desired angle.

My improved electrode holder in addition to supporting weldingelectrodes in a transverse position also will support the sameco-axially with respect to the plunger. For this purpose a groove 32,V-shaped in cross section and which is best shown in Fig. 6 is formed inthe end of the plunger I5. This groove opens laterally of the plungerand is adapted to be closed by a leaf spring 33 which is attached to thesaid plunger by means of a screw 34. The portion of the leaf springthrough which the screw 34 extends is disposed in a recess 35 formed inthe said plunger. The spring 33 normally bows outwardly as shown in Fig.1 and has attached to it a jaw member 36 which is adapted to be movedtowards the apex of the groove l32 when the spring l33 is flexedinwardly. The spring 33 has an end portion 38 which engages a conicalsurface 31 formed on the end of the neck I2 of the case I0. This portionof the spring forms a cam for moving the jaw member 36 when the plungerI5 is moved inwardly into the case Ill. It will thus be readilycomprehended that electrodes of different diameter may be inserted intothe groove 32 and held in proper position Within said groove.

For urging the plunger I inwardly into the case IIJ a compression coilspring 39 is employed which encircles the portion I 6 of said plunger.This spring is seated at one end against a shoulder 4I formed at one endof the collar I'I and at its other end against a fitting 42 mounted uponthe end of the portion I5 of said plunger. This fitting has a socket 43in which the end I6 of the plunger extends and is attached to the sameby means of a screw 44 which passes through said fitting and plunger andis threaded into the wall of said fitting. The plunger I5 is guided forlimited movement along the collar I'I by means of a pin 45 which extendsthrough an elongated slot 46 in said plunger. This pin passes throughthe collar I'I and is screwed into the wall of the same. Said pin isconcealed by means of the body portion II of the case IIl.

In order to reciprocate the plunger I5 in opposition to the action ofspring 39 a lever 41 is employed. This lever is received in an arcuategroove 48 in the plunger I5 and is pivoted thereto by means of a pintle49 which extends through Aan arm A5I formed on said lever and theplunger proper. For the purpose of assembling the lever 4'! and theplunger I5, an opening II is formed in the body portion II of case I6opposite the head I3 of the pintle 49. This opening is threaded and isnormally closed by means of a plug 68 which is screwed into the same.The arm 5I of said lever extends through a slot 52 in the body portionII of case I0. At the exterior of the case I0, a lever 41 is providedwith a finger piece 53 by means of which said lever may be manipulated.The said nger piece is preferably covered with insulating material 54 toprevent contact with the metal of the said lever in the manipulation ofthe same. The arm 5I of lever 41 has a lug 55 formed on the same whichlies within the interior of the body II of case I0 and which is adaptedto engage a washer 56 disposed against the end of the collar I'Iopposite the shoulder 4I thereof. This washer forms a shoulder againstwhich said lug may abut when the finger piece I53 is moved from itsposition shown in Fig. 1 toward that shown in Fig. 2 and in oppositionto the action of the spring 39.

The fitting 42 serves to attach the cable for furnishing the weldingcurrent to the holder. For this purpose, the said tting is constructedwith a bore 51 into which the strands 58 of a cable 5S may be inserted.A set screw 6I of a diameter as great as that of bore 51 is screwed intothe said fitting and engages the strands 58 of cable 5S and clamps thesame in place to hold the cable rigidly attached to the plunger I5 andin electrical contact therewith.

To cool the electrode holder the fitting 42 and the spring 39 areconstructed slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the boreI4 of the body portion II of case I0 and said body portion is open tothe exterior at the end of the holder from which the cable 59 issues. Inaddition, the collar I'I is constructed with longitudinal grooves 62which form passageways for conductingr air currents along the plungerI5. Other passageways are formed in the neck I2 of the case IU by meansof grooves 63 therein similar to the grooves 62. In this manner air maytravel throughout the length of the case to cool the plunger I5 and theattached parts thereof. v

At the end of the neck I2 of case I0 is provided a cap 64 which isconstructed of insulating material. This cap has a socket 65 in which isreceived the outermost end of the neck I2. Said cap furthermore has arecess 66 therein in which the spring 33 operates. Cap 64 isfrictionally held applied to the neck I2. The said cap has a hole 61 atits outermost end and through which the welding electrodes may beinserted into the groove 32 in plunger I5. By means of this constructionthe connection between the electrodes and the plunger is completelyconcealed and protected from injury.

The operation of the invention is as follows. In normal position, thespring 39 urges the plunger I5inwardly and the parts occupy positionssubstantially as shown in Fig. 1 with the plunger I5 disposedinwardly'within the case I0. This position is determined by the pin 45striking the end of slot 46. When it is desired to utilize the holesv2I, 22, 21 and 28 for the holding of welding electrodes, the nger piece53 is depressed suciently to bring the various holes of the plunger I5to register with the holes of the neck I2 of the case I6. When theseholes are in register, the shank'of a welding electrode may be insertedin the proper holes, The finger piece 53 is then released and spring 39then draws the plunger I5 inwardly to urge the Welding electrode againstthe walls of the neck I2 of the case III, thus bringing the electrodeinto electrical contact with the plunger and holding the same rigidlymounted in the holder. The parts then occupy the positions shown inFig.- 1. If it is desired to insert an electrode in axial alignment withthe plunger I5, finger piece 53 is depressed to the position shown inFig. 2. Jaw member 36 in such case is moved completely out of the groove32 and into the recess 65 in cap. 64. This permits of readily insertingthe Welding electrode into the groove 32. Upon release of the fingerpiece 53 the spring 39 again draws the plunger I inwardly and cam 3Boperating on surface 31 forces the jaw member 36 against the electrodethereby urging the electrode against the wall of the plunger I5 at thelocality of the groove 32. The rod is then rmly held in position. Afterthe rod is in position the operator uses the holder in the customarymanner.

Whenever it becomes necessary to disassemble the parts, the following isthe procedure. Plug 68 is first removed and the pintle 49 thereafterremoved from the plunger I5 through the opening II closed by the saidplug. The lever 4'I may then be withdrawn from the interior of the caseI0 through the slot 52 in the body portion II of said case. By nowremoving the screws 'I2 the collar I'I becomes detached from the caseID, and the assembly of plunger I5, collar Il, spring 39 and fitting 42may be withdrawn through the open end of the bore I 4 in the body II-After removal from the case the fitting 42 may be detached by removingscrew 44 and the bushing I! detached by removing pin 45. The parts maythen be examined, repaired or replaced and the device reassembled byadopting the reverse procedure.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. My invention is extremelysimple in construction and can be manufactured at an economical cost.The entire device is insulated so that danger from electric shock orburning is greatly reduced. The device is easily and quickly operated bypressure on the linger piece of the operating lever and the weldingelectrode may be easily and quickly applied. Operation of the holder maybe accomplished While the Welder uses heavl7 gloves and without removalof the same. My invention utilizes no threaded parts for securing thewelding electrode in position. The electrodes may be held at variousangles transversely of the holder as well as in a position co-axialtherewith. In addition welding electrodes of diiferent diameter may besuccessfully held in the holder. With my improved invention substantialcontact is procured between the electrode and the clamping device of theinvention so that the heating at the locality of attachment of theelectrodes to the holder is greatly reduced. The case for the holder isconstructed entirely of insulating material and the cap at the end ofthe same may be made of a single piece of material so as to reduce thecost of the holder and so as to procure a rigid and substantialconstruction. By means of the ventilating openings formed in the variousparts of the holder air may be caused to circulate through the same tocool the various parts of the holder and to prevent undue rise oftemperature of the same. A minimum number of parts with a minmum numberof joints are used in the conducting structure between the cable and theelectrode so that the resistance between the cable and the electrodebecomes a minimum. My improved electrode holder may be operated with onehand leaving the other hand free to insert and remove electrodes fromthe holder.

Changes in the speciiic form of my invention, as herein described, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrode holder an elongated case, a plunger slidable alongsaid case, said plunger having a V-shaped groove in one end of the sameopening laterally of said plunger for the reception of a weldingelectrode, a spring secured to said plunger and extending along saidgroove, a jaw on said spring adapted to urge the electrode toward thevertex of said groove and means on said case for moving said jawinwardly toward the apex of said groove upon longitudinal movement ofthe plunger within said case.

2. In an electrode holder, an elongated case, a plunger slidable alongsaid case, said plunger having a V-shaped groove in one end of the sameopening laterally of said plunger for the recep tion of a weldingelectrode, an elongated jaw member secured to said plunger and extendingalong said groove, a jaw at the outer end of said jaw member, said jawmember being supported at its inner end on said plunger for movementtoward and from said groove, and means on said case for moving said jawinwardly toward the apex of said groove upon longitudinal movement ofthe plunger within said case.

GUSTAF F. NILSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name' Date 1,425,440 Beiswinger et al. Aug.8, 1922 1,895,573 Kiser Jan. 31, 1933 1,928,517 Varner Sept. 26, 19332,295,546 Combridge Sept. 15, 1942 2,312,763 Linquist Mar. 2, 19432,356,054 Hill Aug. 15, 1944 2,372,251 Checkos Mar. 27, 1945 2,390,837Hill Dec. 11, 1945 2,393,830 Smith Jan. 29, 1946

